Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while working can prevent and reduce risk happening work accident. In some high-risk jobs, personal protective equipment is mandatory. However, the type of personal protective equipment that must be worn is not the same, depending on the type of work being carried out.
Personal protective equipment is equipment that must be used to protect workers from hazards that can cause serious injury or illness related to their work. Personal protective equipment has been specially designed according to the type of work, for example, PPE for construction workers will not be the same as PPE for workers in the laboratory.
All PPE equipment must meet applicable standards and requirements, such as clean, fit, and comfortable to wear by workers, and must be replaced periodically if it is not functioning properly and has expired.
Types of Personal Protective Equipment
This obligation to wear PPE has been agreed by the government through the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia. The shape of the tool depends on its function, namely:
1. Head protection
Head protection equipment serves to protect the head from impact, blow, or head injury due to falling hard objects. This tool can also protect the head from heat radiation, fire, chemical splashes, or extreme temperatures.
Types of head protection equipment consist of a safety helmet (safety helmet), hats or hoods, and hair protectors.
2. Eye and face protection
This protective equipment serves to protect the eyes and face from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as ammonium nitrate, gases and particles floating in the air or water, splashes of small objects, heat, or steam.
It is also important to use personal protective equipment that covers the face and eyes to reduce the risk of developing health problems or injuries due to exposure to radiation, light rays, and impacts or blows from hard or sharp objects.
Eye protection equipment that is generally used is special glasses or glasses spectacles and goggles. While the face protection equipment consists of a face shield (face shield) or full face mask, namely a mask that covers the entire face.
3. Ear protection equipment
These earmuffs consist of earplugs (ear plugs) or earmuffs (ear muffs) which serves to protect the ear from noise (noise pollution) or air pressure.
4. Respiratory protective equipment
The function of this tool is to protect the respiratory organs by channeling clean air or filtering exposure to harmful substances or objects, such as microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, and fungi), dust, mist, steam, smoke, and certain chemical gases, so as not to be inhaled and enter into the body.
Respiratory protection equipment consists of several components, namely:
- Mask.
- Respirator.
- tube or cartridge specifically for the delivery of oxygen.
- Dive tank and regulator, for workers working in the water.
If workers experience respiratory problems at work, ideally there are also breathing apparatus, such as masks and oxygen cylinders.
5. Hand protective equipment
Protective hands or gloves serve to protect the fingers from fire, hot or cold temperatures, radiation, electric current, chemicals, impact or blow, being scratched by sharp objects, or infection.
These gloves are made of various materials, depending on the needs and the job. These gloves are made of metal, leather, canvas, cloth, rubber, or special materials to protect hands from certain chemicals.
6. Foot protection equipment
This tool serves to protect the feet from impact or being hit by heavy objects, punctured by sharp objects, exposed to hot or cold liquids and hazardous chemicals, and slipping due to slippery surfaces. Types of foot protection in the form of rubber boots (boot) and safety shoes.
7. Protective clothing
Protective clothing serves to protect the body from extreme hot or cold temperatures, exposure to fire and hot objects, chemical splashes, hot steam, impact, radiation, animal bites or stings, as well as viral, fungal, and bacterial infections.
The type of protective clothing consists of a vest (vest), apron (apron or coveralls), jackets, and overalls (one piece coverall).
8. Safety belts and straps
Some jobs require workers to work in positions that are quite dangerous, such as at heights or in cramped underground spaces. This safety belt and strap serves to limit the movement of workers so they don't fall or be separated from a safe position.
9. Buoy
Buoys are used by workers who work on water or on the surface of the water so that they can float and not sink. This buoy consists of life jacket or life vest.
It is important to remember that the use of personal protective equipment is very important to protect yourself from accidents at work. But unfortunately, there are still many workers who are reluctant to wear PPE because it is uncomfortable, difficult, heavy, or congested.
Besides being used at work, it is also important to use PPE when cleaning the house or certain places from the nests of animals that carry germs or viruses, such as hantaviruses. The use of PPE during the COVID-19 outbreak is also important to prevent and control Corona virus infection.
Although sometimes it can make users unable to move freely and uncomfortable, PPE still needs to be worn at all times while working. Especially if it has been determined by company and government regulations. The goal is to prevent serious health problems and injuries that are potentially life threatening or cause disability.